The History Of Cannabis Collectibles

As marijuana companies embrace progressive legislation and slick branding, consumers are rushing to collect all those memorabilia from the increasingly bygone era of prohibition.

Marijuana memorabilia from the prohibition era is highly collectible and has great historical value. We hope that it will never be recreated again, so it is a valuable item to own.

Buckle puffers smoked at Woodstock

Jake Fulteron has spent a lot of time and money looking for a replacement belt buckle pipe that he lost at the 1969 Woodstock music festival. His efforts have resulted in 900 pounds of brass belt buckle pipes.

He tells you that he found a buckle puffer on a lanyard and lost it years ago. He’s been searching for it ever since.

A year ago, Fulteron finally tracked down one of these elusive buckle puffers: “It was in front of me, and I was like ‘that’s my pipe.’ I know what the hippie filigrees are—I have 40.” He estimates he has around 1,000 buckles total.

He is fascinated by the intricate buckles on the shoes, which reflect the amount of work that went into their creation.

The ’60s buckles are unique and different from the ’70s buckles. The handmade buckles from the ’60s are different from the more mass-produced buckles from the ’70s.

Fulteron’s extensive knowledge of cannabis-inspired collectibles has taken him from the niche market to acquiring rare and unusual pieces from all aspects of the head shops.

I took the time to buy up old posters, clothes, spoons, and buckles, and found a catalog of wholesale supplies for headshops. This allowed me to know exactly what to look for when shopping for supplies.

Belts from a certain year are typically more distinctive and rare than belts from other years. Consequently, collectors believe they can identify which year the belt was made with relative ease.

The illegality and small print of these toker collectibles makes it difficult to track them down, but when they do happen, they are a happy surprise. Fulerton also sees parallels in how culture increasingly values items and mementos from repressive eras.

Prohibition’s racist legacy

Dave Domer is a journalist and cannabis tour guide who scored an original 1974 cannabis grow guide, Grow Yer Own Stone by Dr. Alexander Sumach, from his uncle. One of Domer’s discoveries is Emily Murphy’s 1922 book, The Black Candle. Often cited as fear-mongering, racist propaganda that drummed up support for opium and cannabis prohibition, this book is an interesting read.

“[It’s] like your grandmother never saw or was exposed to drugs, but wrote a book. Today it would be called fake news,” he said.

The Black Candle is an excellent example of racism disguised as prohibition propaganda that caused great harm to minorities, in particular Asian Canadians who were the target of Opium Act penalties. You can buy this first printing for about $90.

Murphy’s book has been attributed to fanning racist sentiments against Asian Americans and marijuana. (polite )

Cannabis prohibition is founded on racism, according to Centennial College professor Abi Sampson. The drug criminalization of cannabis is a result of anti-Asian sentiment, which was translated into Emily Murphy’s book. We should repeal cannabis prohibition because it is wrong to punish people based on their race or ethnicity.

Even back in the 1970s, pro-cannabis items could have racist overtones. The Great American Buckle Company’s pot belt buckle is a unique and interesting piece of 70s cannabis culture, but it was created with racist stereotypes in mind. One item, called “Vietnamese,” features a caricature of an Asian man smoking a joint with chopsticks.

I think this buckle is a really important piece of history. It shows how racism is pervasive in our culture and how it’s often reinforced through popular media and fashion.

You can express your emotions comfortably and stylishly with a belt like this.

“It’s a little like how people can get really excited about the Dukes Hazards, you can be a huge fan, but you know not to fly the Confederate flag.”

The Vietnamese buckle has historical value, of which Sampson said: “I feel it will find its place in the Amsterdam Hashish and Marijuana Museum. It’s part of the culture of cannabis and the history of where we came from.”

The making of a marijuana museum

In the United States, cannabis prohibition has been in place for a long time. It’s time to end this outdated policy and allow for more research into this versatile plant.

The 1974 Grow Your Own Stone is like owning a piece of history. It documents Canada’s first steps towards legalization, and is a valuable collector’s item.

The ganja-themed artwork in this book has become a success internationally, with thirteen printings to date. It is currently valued by book collectors at around $175-$250 CAD.

In the 1990s, Dr. Sumach testified before the Canadian Senate about the potential commercial crop value of hemp. His testimony helped contribute to Canada beginning limited hemp growing exemptions.

Finding a 1974 copy of Dr. Alexander Sumach’s Grow Yer Own Stone is like finding a rare comic book. It’s a valuable collector’s item, and it’s a great addition to any library.

While rummaging through a basket of toys in a dingy country “treasure” store, I serendipitously discovered another Dr. Sumach collaboration — The Underground Games Company’s 1983 Trafficking Game — complete with a pamphlet from the Addiction Research Foundation of Ontario titled “Marijuana: Answers for Teens and Parents.”

The owner of the game didn’t know they had it, and gladly accepted twenty dollars for it. The Canadian game captures the ’80s Toronto weed dealing vibe beautifully, satirizing landmarks and logos with a fine brush.

The rise of trafficking in Canada is a unique time in our drug war history. Back in 1988, when the Conservative government passed Criminal Code 462.2, making even owning a book about marijuana a criminal offense, it was clear that trafficking was a problem that needed to be addressed.

During the late 80s, stoners couldn’t even own NORML Canada literature, but thanks to a 1994 court ruling, Gen Xers were able to openly talk pot and purchase Grow Your Own Stone legally. This ruling is Canada’s first crack in prohibition and has helped us move forward in our efforts to effect change.

Finding illegal lit literature and collectibles in North America

The 1974 Grow Your Own Stone album is like owning Spiderman’s first appearance, since it documents Canada’s early efforts to legalize marijuana.

The amazing ganja-themed art in the book has been loved by fans all over the world, and it’s currently worth a significant amount of money.

In the 1990s, Dr. Sumach testified before the Canadian Senate about the commercial crop value of hemp. His testimony contributed to Canada beginning limited hemp growing exemptions.

Finding a 1974 copy of Dr. Alexander Sumach’s Grow Your Own Stone is like finding a rare and valuable comic book. It’s a valuable collector’s item that’s sure to thrill any fan of vintage literature.

I found a game by Dr. Sumach that was previously unpublished—The Underground Games Company 1983 Trafficking board game. This game is complete with a pamphlet from the Ontario Addiction Research Foundation that discusses marijuana.

The owner of the game was unaware they had it, and gladly accepted twenty dollars. The Canadian game captures the “80s Toronto weed dealing vibe beautifully,” satirizing landmarks and logos with a skillful toker brush.

Trafficking is a new and important addition to Canada’s drug war history because, in 1988, the Conservative government proclaimed Criminal Code 462.2, which made even possessing a book about marijuana a crime.

Did you know that in the late 80s, stoners couldn’t even own NORML Canada literature, but it was only in 1994 that they were able to openly talk pot and purchase Grow Your Own Stone legally? This ruling is Canada’s first crack in prohibition, and it has helped us get to where we are today.

Modern mementos and legacy collectibles

Marijuana memorabilia doesn’t have to be old to be considered collectibles. Take the first iterations of Canada’s cannabis branding- how many people have kept their Canadian legacy-era product packaging?

Cannabis seed collectors really appreciate good packaging, and @goshenthegreen has some great examples from breeders like TGA Subcool, DJ Short, and Oaksterdam.

Cannabis collectibles are helping us remember the prohibitionist past, and the vibrant subculture that existed despite the illegality.

As we move towards legalization, history is still unfolding in various places, waiting for you to find a piece.